The Good Lord Bird - Ethan Hawke gives a career best performance as abolitionist John Brown - Sun on Showtime

[Anton Sugar]

Not my fav episode, but still really solid episode.

I'm glad Onion is the protagonist. Adding a Black character not based in history had me worried the character would just be there in a stereotypical role. There's been a lot of diversity in the Black experience in almost every episode.

 

[FreezePeach]

Hope people arent sleeping on this. Things are getting better and better as the stakes go up.

 

[Nola]

Have seen the first three episodes now. Assuming they don't fuck this up this is shaping up to be a top tier all time mini series.

Hope they land it...

Ethan Hawke is wildly underrated/underappreciated. I am kicking myself for not starting to watch this yet.

Edit: check out In the Valley of Violence too.

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Agreed and I'm guilty as charged.

Honestly had considered a lot of his work I had seen(earlier work mostly) rather subpar and pretty similar...He's absolutely killing it in this and want to see what else when has done recently now

 

[Kinggroin]

First Reformed. Watch it.

 

[J_Viper]

I keep forgetting to check this out. Might wait till all the episodes drop to minimize the subscription length.

Showtime is pretty wack, but every so often they put out a real banger.

Honestly had considered a lot of his work I had seen(earlier work mostly) rather subpar

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Mods please ban

 

[GravaGravity]

What's the uk option for this? As a hawke stan i must know

 

[Scottt]

Compromise your life before you compromise the time. That is powerful.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

That extended preaching scene was electric!

What's the uk option for this? As a hawke stan i must know

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Looks like it premieres November 18 on Sky Atlantic in the UK.

 

[Boogs31]

Ethan Hawke is wildly underrated/underappreciated. I am kicking myself for not starting to watch this yet.

Edit: check out In the Valley of Violence too.

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Agreed on Hawke. The level of camp he is putting in this performance is quite enjoyable. Can't say I would recommend In the Valley of Violence. I found that movie incredibly mediocre, even if Hawke was perfectly fine in his own right.

 

[Anton Sugar]

Fantastic episode.

Holy SHIT, Orlando fucking Jones was incredible. Small role, amazing performance.

Also, FUCK COOK, jesus christ. Throw him in the potomac already.

 

[Scottt]

Man this show is so good. Come on.

If your script has a bunch of people sitting around and spontaneously singing together, I am eating that up.

 

[Scottt]

That was very a good series. I'm pleased to have been the sole contributor to its viewership.

 

[PunchDrunk28]

Wow-I just started watching Ken Burns The Civil War and they talked about this guy. He seemed completely fascinating and I wondered why there had never been a movie or show about him.

Dude even looked like a badass.

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Wait until you see him with the sick beard!

John Brown is one of my favorite people in history to teach about with my students.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

That was very a good series. I'm pleased to have been the sole contributor to its viewership.

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I'm here! And yes, this was a very good series. A shame more people didn't watch :/

 

[Deleted member 14459]

Can't believe how little discussion this is getting. Great series, great cast.

For those watching: Was a bit worried people would not take well to the portrayal of Fredrick Douglass lol.

 

[Pet Rock]

I jumped on late and binged it over the last few days. Kept me so hype, I watched Free State of Jones again for more White "race-traitor" content. Love that one too, though it's not 100 percent comparable with the latter being more historically-faithful and has less humor. (Btw also has Mahershala Ali who's great as usual).

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

What a great show this was. Ethen Hawke was fantastic.

 

[Tallshortman]

Watched the last episode last night. A really fantastic series. I wish it had more buzz given how apt it's subject matter is.

 

[Qvoth]

late but finally finished
amazing show
amazing performance by ethan

 

[Turin]

Binged the last 4 episodes at once. Fantastic show. Maybe my favorite of the year. (though I'm a very forgetful person)

Ethan Hawke is absolutely electric but the supporting cast made excellent accounts of themselves as well.

That last bit of dialogue about accepting Onion in "whatever clothes you wear" was an incredibly sweet gesture.

 

[FreezePeach]

I finished this last week but yeah it's bound to win some awards. Shame it doesnt seem to get more attention. If it was HBO it would be getting more.

 

[Nola]

Just finished last night. Nothing special to add other than it was incredible. Best miniseries I've seen in some time.

Ethan Hawke was incredible and I hope this show wines every award it can.

 

[BossAttack]

Incredible all around the only thing that bothered me after everything was over is that Frederick fucking Douglass is criticized, almost painted as a sellout for not backing the raid. Meanwhile, JED fucking Confederate ass Stuart is softened.

Excuse me, my nigga? Douglass was right not to join Brown's insane plot.

 

[Gorger]

Honestly teared up in the

Spoiler

final prison scene between John Brown and Little Onion. Ethan Hawkes performance through the whole series was just phenomenal, he really carried the spirit of John Brown. What a fascinating character.

 

[CesareNorrez]

Anyone looking to read the book, the Kindle version is $2.99 today.

 

[AllThingsPurple]

Has this show come to UK yet?

 

[Messofanego]

Has this show come to UK yet?

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Yup, on Now TV.

Watched the first episode, that was bloody fantastic. Peter Deming's cinematography is worth praising.

 

[J_Viper]

First episode down. What a damn fine episode of television.

Ethan Hawke is an unsung legend of the industry. Guy always gives 110%, and doesn't get the credit he deserves. He is MAGNETIC in this role.

 

[Scottt]

First episode down. What a damn fine episode of television.

Ethan Hawke is an unsung legend of the industry. Guy always gives 110%, and doesn't get the credit he deserves. He is MAGNETIC in this role.

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He is so good. I went straight into a Hawke-athon after the final episode.

 

[J_Viper]

He is so good. I went straight into a Hawke-athon after the final episode.

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Born to Be Blue is essential Hawke if you haven't already checked it out

 

[Arkestry]

Finally got around to finishing this today. That last episode really was something, the scene in the engine house where they're giving Henry his clothes was incredibly moving. "Little peanuts".

I also loved Henry's goodbye to Bob, who I really loved as a character. The whole run from Canada to Harper's Ferry was so riveting, and incredibly sad and beautiful. The final scene between Henry and Brown was especially lovely.

Even if it's just an interpretation of the real events, for someone with so many cultural and historical reasons not to fight to take up arms and give his life is really fucking incredible. Glad I know about Brown after this, and Ethan Hawke did a fantastic job playing him. Sweet touch having his actual daughter play Annie too.

 

[J_Viper]

Oh man, I really hope Hawke comes back soon, because going by the second episode so far, the rest of the series isn't up to his performance.

 

[ezekial45]

Oh man, I really hope Hawke comes back soom, because going by the second episode so far, the rest of the series isn't up to his performance.

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Other notable characters do pop up. I thought Daveed Diggs was brilliant in this show. But yeah, Etham Hawkes was the high point. IMO, the final episode has some of the best acting of his career. He was incredible.

 

[J_Viper]

Other notable characters do pop up. I thought Daveed Diggs was brilliant in this show. But yeah, Etham Hawkes was the high point. IMO, the final episode has some of the best acting of his career. He was incredible.

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Yeah the rest of the cast is solid, but there's definitely something missing without his presence. Like, this is now a series with "Showtime" level production values.

Also, slightly unrelated, but God damn Showtime's stream quality is so bad. It makes HBO Max look like an 8K stream

Edit: Yeah, second half of EP2 and all of 3 is back to top-notch form.

 

[DjDeathCool]

Just stumbled into this show.. It's fucking amazing! I'm only three episodes in but i'm surprised to see this thread is only three pages long...

 

[tobascodagama]

I think not a lot of people have Showtime. That's the only reason I haven't watched it yet.

 

[Turin]

More people should watch this show

and vote for it on Ratsky Watsky's TV Show of the Year thread

 

[RatskyWatsky]

Yes!

 

[Dalek]

Oh man I just finished episode 4. What a fucking show.

 

[Deleted member 21709]

I think not a lot of people have Showtime. That's the only reason I haven't watched it yet.

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Yeah, this.

 

[Timbuktu]

I just finished this show. Being in the UK, I have to say that I did not know about John Brown. How well known is he as a figure in the US? Would be interested to pick up a non fiction book about him.

I found the finale incredibly moving, although it was obviously fiction. I don't know if those exchanges in the end make John Brown more saintly than he really was. There is a lot of quotable lines. Him telling Onion to "Whatever you choose to be, live it to the full." And how there is an eternity before and after. He becomes a bit less complicated than at the beginning and it was impossible not to completely root for him.